The highly anticipated DC sequel Joker: Folie à Deux has now debuted at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and, following some deeply divisive early reactions, the Rotten Tomatoes rating has now been revealed. And, sadly, it’s no laughing matter. Joker: Folie à Deux now stands at 60% at time of wring, with the follow-up coming in weaker than the first, Oscar-winning outing, which holds a 69% on the “Tomatometer.”
Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair largely found the movie to be a “joke,” and not in a good way, as it “plays as a middle finger to anyone who sought something meaningful” in Todd Phillips’ saga.
“It’s startlingly dull, a pointless procedural that seems to disdain its audience.”
David Ehrlich of IndieWire felt similarly, criticizing the “underwhelming” attempt to transform the world of Joker into a musical.
“Folie à Deux simply tap dances in place for the majority of its listless runtime, stringing together a series of underwhelming musical numbers that are either too on the nose… or too vaguely related to its characters to express anything at all.”
Eric Eisenberg of CinemaBlend called Joker: Folie à Deux “An overindulgent musical that lacks the punch of its predecessor,” while Jordan Farley of Total Film concluded, “Part courtroom movie, part behind-bars romance, Folie à Deux is an unconventional musical sequel that fails to hit the high notes.”
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, meanwhile, criticized the sequel for not letting “Joker Be Joker Enough,” and found the movie to be far too “overly cautious” in its approach.
“Joker: Folie à Deux may be ambitious and superficially outrageous, but in a basic way it’s an overly cautious sequel.”
Collider’s Martin Tsai scored Joker: Folie à Deux a pitiful 4/10, and found very little to enjoy in the sequel’s attempt at a tonal shift.
“Phillips is just incapable of delivering the genre’s requisite razzle-dazzle that would surely complement Joker’s persona.”
Some Critics Are Singing the Praises of Joker: Folie à Deux
But it’s not all bad news, as some have found themselves enamored by the continuing adventures of Arthur Fleck. John Nugent of Empire awarded the movie 4/5 and enjoyed the shift from the first outing’s “relentlessly oppressive and bleak” tone to something “oddly hopeful.”
“As sweet and beguiling a musical romance as it’s possible to have between two murderous psychopaths. Its kooky approach won’t suit all stripes of comic-book fan, but it finds a strange, tragic hopefulness all of its own.”
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, heaped praise on Lady Gaga, who joins the Joker franchise as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel.
“Gaga is a compelling live-wire presence, splitting the difference between affinity and obsession, while endearingly giving Arthur a shot… Their musical numbers, both duets and solos, have a vitality that the more often dour film desperately needs.”
Lastly, Alexander Harrison of Screen Rant enjoyed the way that Joker: Folie à Deux has been “Engineered To Antagonize Joker Fans.”
“It seems like Todd Philips targeted Folie à Deux directly at the audience who got a little too into Joker – and made it to antagonize them.”
Written and directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie À Deux stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker alongside fellow Oscar winner Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born) as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel / Harley Quinn. The rest of the cast includes Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote), as well as Zazie Beetz, who reprises her role as Sophie Dumond from the first Joker. You can check out the official synopsis for Joker: Folie À Deux below.
“Joker: Folie À Deux” finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.”
Joker: Folie à Deux
is due to be released in theaters in the United States on October 4, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
